WED Welcomes New Director

April 10, 2024

On April 2, 2024 the Winneshiek Energy District welcomed Kristin Eggen as the second executive director of the Winneshiek Energy District.Eggen first came to the Winneshiek Energy District as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps volunteer in …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Fact Sheets

March 30, 2024

Starting in 2024 the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is ushering in a suite of tax credits and rebates for Americans looking to invest in clean energy. More rebate programs are anticipated to become available later …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Electric Vehicle Charging in Winneshiek County

February 29, 2024

Publicly available electric vehicle charging has greatly improved in Winneshiek County and northeast Iowa. Within Decorah city limits, there are now sixteen level 2 chargers available for public use and two direct current fast chargers …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Pending Electric Rate Shocks: Make Your Voice Heard

February 1, 2024

Jim Martin-Schramm Last fall, Alliant Energy sent a notice to customers about its application to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to increase rates. For many, Alliant’s notice might have been missed or swept into the …


Decorah Family Saves by Installing Heat Pump Water Heater

October 30, 2023

Decorah’s Kim and Mary Glock recently upgraded their 50-gallon electric resistance water heater to an electric hybrid heat pump water heater, resulting in energy savings of about $650 annually. Follow along as we outline their …


The City of Decorah’s Partnership with CEDI Receives a Major Federal Grant

October 30, 2023

By Jim Martin-Schramm, Policy Analyst, Clean Energy Districts of IowaOn October 12, 2023, the Department of Energy announced that the City of Decorah, in partnership with the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa, has been awarded …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Decorah Family Cuts the Gas Line and Goes All Electric

August 7, 2023

Guest Story by Laura Peterson Earlier this month our energy utility came to shut off our natural gas connection. Usually, having your gas service cut off means either you’re moving to a new house or …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Moving the Needle: How One Rural Congregation Electrified its Building and Secured its Future

July 27, 2023

Guest Story by Jim and Liz Fritz,Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Decorah, IowaIs it possible for a small Midwestern Lutheran congregation to go from eight natural gas furnaces to eight heat pumps and create all needed …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

2023 Solar Tax Incentives

July 2, 2023

Solar PV tax incentives are a powerful financial incentive for homeowners, farmers, and business owners considering going solar. Unfortunately, renewable energy tax credits are not refundable, and so not a fair incentive for those with …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Inflation Reduction Act

July 2, 2023

Update: On July 4. 2025 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law, repealing a significant portion of the Inflation Reduction Act.  The Inflation Reeducation Act is landmark federal legislation that advances key priories of …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Can I buy an EV, Already?!

June 28, 2023

According to Autolist.com’s 2023 Electric Vehicle Survey, new car buyers’ top concerns with EVs include sky-high prices, range limitations, and a lack of public charging. As their data suggests, year-over-year progress has been made on …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Attention Charge Station Owners: Iowa’s electric vehicle charging tax starts July 1

June 21, 2023

By Andy Johnson, Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Executive DirectorHeads up electric vehicle (EV) charge station owners: All non-residential EV charging that happens in the state of Iowa will be subject to a new 2.6 …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Does Solar Increase the Resale Value of Your House?

June 15, 2023

When it comes to buying and selling a home, what exactly is the value of solar? Does having solar panels on your roof actually increase your home’s value at the time of sale? How can …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Decorah Businesses Encouraged to Utilize Energy Efficiency Programs

May 23, 2023

Decorah Businesses Encouraged to Utilize Energy Efficiency ProgramsBy Jim Martin-Schramm, Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Policy Analyst According to a study completed in 2020, the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the City of …


Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Building Electrification: The Devil’s in the Details

May 22, 2023

Browsing Rewiring America’s website, it’s easy to get excited about the potential benefits of home electrification. Heat pumps, induction stoves, ventless heat pump clothes dryers, breaker boxes, rooftop solar, EVs, etc. All relatively straightforward, and …